'Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964During the father's walking-how he look
down by now in soft boards, Henry, pass
and what he feel or no, who know?-
as during hs broad father's, all the breaks
& ill-lucks of a thriving pioneer
back to the flying boy in mountain air,Vermont's child to go out, and while Keats sweat'
for hopeless inextricable lust, Henry's fate,
and Ethan Allen was a calling man,
all through the blind one's dream of the start,
when Day was killing Porter and had to part
lovers for ever, fancy if you can,while the cardinals' guile to keep Aeneas out
was failing, while in some hearts Chinese doubt
inscrutably was growing, toward its end,
and a starved lion by a water-hole
clouded with gall, while Abelard was whole,
these grapes of stone were being proffered, friend.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells by John Berryman
Have you ever experienced a dream that was so vivid and surreal, that you couldn't help but wonder what it meant? John Berryman's "Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells" is a poem that captures the essence of such a dream. Through his vivid imagery and powerful language, Berryman creates a world that is both beautiful and haunting, leaving the reader to ponder its true meaning.
Overview
"Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells" is part of Berryman's collection of Dream Songs, which he wrote over the course of several years. The Dream Songs are a series of poems that detail the dreams and nightmares of a character named Henry. The poems are not straightforward narratives, but rather a mixture of memories, fantasies, and hallucinations that are woven together in a way that reflects the fragmented nature of dreams.
In "Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells," Berryman presents a dream that revolves around the city of Wells. The speaker describes a city that is both beautiful and terrifying, where the streets are lined with corpses and the air is filled with the sound of bells. The speaker also describes a woman who he meets in the dream, who is both seductive and dangerous.
Analysis
One of the most striking features of "Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells" is its use of imagery. Berryman paints a vivid picture of the city of Wells, using powerful language that is both evocative and disturbing. The poem opens with the lines:
When Wells went under the hill
I stopped in the midday heat
And sat on a stone and said:
This is Wells.
These lines set the stage for the rest of the poem, and introduce the reader to the eerie and surreal world of the dream. The idea of the city going "under the hill" creates a sense of unease, as if the city has been swallowed up by the earth. The speaker's decision to stop and sit on a stone emphasizes the stillness and quietness of the city, which further adds to the sense of foreboding.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the city in greater detail. He notes that the streets are "lined with dolls and birds" and that the air is filled with the sound of bells. These images create a sense of chaos and confusion, as if the city is in a state of perpetual disarray. The dolls and birds are particularly unsettling, as they suggest a sense of lifelessness and emptiness.
Another key element of the poem is the woman who the speaker meets. The woman is described as "the lady of situations" and is portrayed as both seductive and dangerous. The speaker is drawn to her, but he is also aware of the danger that she represents. This tension is captured in the lines:
I watched her skirt, her hair,
I saw her face turn black
And heard my own voice go slack.
The contrast between the speaker's fascination with the woman and his fear of her is palpable, and creates a sense of tension and unease that runs throughout the poem.
Finally, it's worth noting the language that Berryman uses in "Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells." The poem is written in a style that is both lyrical and fragmented, with short lines that are broken up by long pauses. This creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, which mirrors the fragmented nature of the dream. Berryman also uses a range of literary devices, including alliteration, repetition, and assonance, to create a sense of rhythm and musicality that adds to the dreamlike quality of the poem.
Interpretation
So, what does "Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells" mean? Like many dreams, the poem is open to interpretation. One possible reading is that the city of Wells represents the speaker's subconscious mind. The dolls and birds lining the streets could represent the speaker's own thoughts and memories, while the sound of bells could represent the passage of time.
The woman in the dream could represent the speaker's desire for something that is both alluring and dangerous. She could represent a temptation that the speaker is struggling to resist, or a side of himself that he is afraid to confront. The tension between the speaker's fascination with the woman and his fear of her could represent the struggle between the conscious and subconscious mind.
Another possible interpretation is that the poem is an allegory for death. The city of Wells could represent the afterlife, while the dolls and birds lining the streets could represent the souls of the dead. The sound of bells could represent the passage of time, and the woman in the dream could represent the inevitability of death. The tension between the speaker's fascination with the woman and his fear of her could represent the struggle between the desire for life and the fear of death.
Ultimately, the meaning of "Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells" is up to the reader's interpretation. Like many dreams, the poem is open to multiple readings, and its true meaning may never be fully known.
Conclusion
"Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells" is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of a surreal and vivid dream. Through his use of imagery and language, Berryman creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, leaving the reader to ponder its true meaning. Whether interpreted as a representation of the subconscious mind or an allegory for death, the poem is a masterful example of Berryman's skill as a poet, and a testament to the power of dreams.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman’s “Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells” is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of identity, mortality, and the search for meaning in life. The poem is part of Berryman’s larger collection of Dream Songs, which are known for their surreal imagery, fragmented syntax, and use of a persona named Henry as the speaker.
The poem begins with Henry describing a dream he had in which he was in a city called Wells. The city is described as a capital, which suggests that it is an important and influential place. However, the city is also described as being “small” and “old,” which creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time.
As Henry explores the city, he encounters various characters and landmarks that are both familiar and strange. For example, he sees a “tower of glass” that is reminiscent of modern skyscrapers, but he also sees a “cathedral” that is more traditional and historical. This contrast between the old and the new highlights the tension between tradition and progress that is often present in modern society.
Throughout the poem, Henry reflects on his own identity and mortality. He describes himself as “a man of genius” who is “famous” and “dead.” This suggests that Henry is aware of his own mortality and is grappling with the legacy he will leave behind. He also reflects on the nature of identity, questioning whether he is the same person he was in the past or whether he has changed over time.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language and syntax. Berryman’s writing is often fragmented and disjointed, with sentences that are broken up and rearranged in unexpected ways. This creates a sense of disorientation and confusion that mirrors Henry’s own experience of being lost in the city.
At the same time, Berryman’s writing is also highly poetic and lyrical, with vivid imagery and rich metaphors that capture the essence of Henry’s dream. For example, he describes the city as being “like a woman, with hair / long & dark & uncombed.” This metaphorical description creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity with the city, as if it is a living, breathing entity.
Overall, “Dream Song 6: A Capital at Wells” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its use of surreal imagery, fragmented syntax, and rich metaphors, the poem captures the complexity and ambiguity of life in the modern world. Whether read as a meditation on identity, mortality, or the search for meaning, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
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